Roller-chafe-iron for vehicles.



No. 802,567. PATENTED 001*. 24, 1905.

H. HIGGIN ROLLER 0mm; mom FOR VEHIULES.

APPLICATION FILED AUK 1,1904.

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ATTORNEY,

UNITED STATES PATENT orrrou.

HENRY HIGGIN, OF NEWPORT, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR TO THE I-IIGGIN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF NEWPORT, KENTUCKY, A CORPORA- TION OF I/VEST VIRGINIA.

ROLLER CHAFE-IRON FOR VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 24, 1905.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY HIGGIN, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Newport, in the county of Campbell and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Roller Chafe- Irons for Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

The several features of my invention and the Various advantages resulting from their use conjointly or otherwise will be apparent from the following description and claims.

In the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, and in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts, Figure 1 represents in perspective a view of a device embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 represents in perspective one of the kinds of vehicle-body to which my invention can be applied. This figure shows my invention applied thereto. Fig. 3 is a view of either end of the chafe-iron frame. Fig. t is a view showing a longitudinal central section of the device, partly in elevation and partly in section. Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of the roller. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the screw center pieces. view of the other of the screw center pieces, the latter adapted to hold the spring which serves to prevent the roller from rattling. Fig. 8is a view of this spring which serves to prevent the roller from rattling. Fig. 9 is a plan view of the metal blank cut to form and ready to be bent into the shape it is to assume to be the support for the journal-bearings, &c., of the chafe-iron roller. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the rear portion of either screw center piece, showing a mode of making the rear end thereof.

I will now describe my invention in detail.

In manufacturing this chafe-iron device I take a flat sheet A of flexible metal cut to size and of substantially the shape shown in Fig. 9. Out of this sheet lcut and remove a parallelogrammic piece, thus forming in the sheet a rectangular space C. The space C is as long as is the working surface of the rotatable chafeiron roller H and as wide as the circumference of this roller H. The full width of the sheet A and the respective width of the parts D and D will depend upon how broad a bearing it is desired to have against the adjacent portion of the vehicle to which this entire chafe-iron attachment is applied.

Fig. 7 is a perspective One desired pattern, comprising one set D D D D of interrelated parts, wherein the parts D and D are of useful relative widths, is shown in the drawings.

In proceeding with the manufacture of the device the blank A is bent and formed into the shape shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Thus the portions 1) D are made into cylinders. The portions D and D at their inner edge portions P and P are now located close together and in planes substantially parallel and are held in position preferably as follows: Through these parts I and I are extended fastenings R in the shape of screws or rivets. The latter are preferred.

' The main portion Q of the part D and the main portion Q of the part D are respectively bent along the dotted lines B B" at an angle to the adjacent parts P and I and form between them an angular space T shown, whose angular form is well shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

When the chafe-iron device is applied to a vehicle, the edge of the body or other suitable support of thevehicle occupies the space T. (See Figs. 1 and 3.) Screws or bolts extended through the openings S Sof the part D serve to connect the latter firmly to the vehicle. The openings S are preferably of a slotted form, as indicated by the dotted lines in connection therewith. Thereby the chafeiron device can be set at any desired location on the vehicle-body and be thereafter moved somewhat and reset to meet the wheel at the proper pointviz., to meet the change of conditions occasioned by the weakening of the springs or the overloading of the vehicle. Such changes alter the place at which the wheel touches the vehicle-body. The other part or flangeQ of the chafe-iron device fits against an adjacent portion of the vehicle. For instance, the part Q may fit against the horizontal under side of the body of the vehicle and the part Q fit against the outer vertical side of the carriage-body, the edge of the body occupying the apex of the angular space T.

In each of the sleeves E, formed by the bent-up portions D and D", 1 form a female screw-thread I also provide centers having exterior screw-threads F of a pitch adapted to engage the female screw-threads of the sleeves. Each screw center piece has a suitable head F, provided with means for turning the screw; To this end the head may be several-sided, or have corrugations or ribs parallel to the axial length of the center, or be, as shown, provided with an end slot I for the reception of a screw-driver; but the head may be omitted and the slot For other means for rotating it be at the end of the screw-shank, as illustrated in Fig. 10. The screw center has a bearing portion F composed of an extreme end portion X, which is tapered, (conical,) and a succeeding part Y, which is cylindrical. At the shoulder F the screw-threaded portion F begins; but in the screw center piece which is to receive the spring there is between the part Y and the screw-threaded portion F a shoulder F and a cylindrical portion F of a diameter greater than the cylindrical portion of the part Y. The cylindrical portion Y of the part F performs an important service in that it strengthens the bearing between the roller H and the sleeves and also serves to sustain the roller H in case the conical part X is worn down or otherwise injured. Entire dependence therefore need not be placed upon the conical bearing X. The whole bearing is for this reason much more substantial. The chafe-iron roller H at each end is provided with a conical recess H and with a continuation of this recess having a wall H parallel to the axial length of the roller H. The recess H receives the tapered portion X of the part F and the cylindrical part Y of the latter comes in juxtaposition with the wall H Upon the said part F which is present on one of the centers F, a coiled spring K is located. The outer end of the coiled spring abuts against the shoulder F and the spring when uncompressed extends forward over the point portion F.

In assembling the several parts I first locate the roller H in position between the sleeves E E. I then screw the centers F forward to place. The conical portion X enters the adjacent recess H and the cylindrical part Y is in the recess H of the rollerI-I and closely fits the latter. The spring K, upon one of these centers F, lies within the adjacent sleeve E and embraces the part F of the center. It is duly compressed between the shoulder F and the adjacent end of the roller H. Thus compressed it presses the roller H against the opposite center E or against the adjacent end of the opposite sleeve E. It thus performs the function of rendering the device an antirattling one.

Among the various advantages afforded by my invention are the following: The construction of the sleeves E E and the flanges D D all formed out of a single piece of sheet metal stamped or struck up into shape, presents a very economical use of material and a very simple, easy, and cheap mode of manufacturing these parts. It is also apparent that the rivets or screws R can be readily tightened. By thus treating them they will operate to contract the loopsthat is, the

sleeves E Eupon the screw center pieces, and thereby lock the latter securely in place. In other words, the construction noted performs the additional service of a lock-nut. The female screw-threads of both sleeves can be made simultaneously, as one long screwtap can go through both. It is to be noted that the roller H and the sleeves E E are intentionally made of the same diameter and that thus the external surface of the roller and the external surfaces of the sleeves are on the same line-that is to say, they are flush with one another. Consequently, if, as will sometimes occur, the tire on a wheel has slipped somewhat off'its felly, and is therefore out of place, then when the wheel is cramped the tire will scrape along the roller and onto one of the sleeves; but formed as I have specified the tire will not injure nor mar the sleeve. On the other hand, when rubber tires are present on the wheels the last aforementioned construction will prevent any injury being done to the tire, because the tire will not come into contact with any sharp edge or projection on the chafing-iron attachment.

In enlarging upon the advantages of the conical and straight bearings presented by each screw center piece and fitting the corresponding recesses in the roller H it is to be noted that this construction possesses the additional advantage that no matter how great nor how sudden the concussion which may occur between the wheel and the chafe iron the latter iron will not lock with the center pieces, but will continue rotatable.

What I claim as new and of my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a chafe-iron attachment, a rotatable rub-iron, separate end bearings for this rubiron, the sleeves, the flanges for securing the chafe-iron to the vehicle, the sleeves and the flanges being integral and formed out of a single piece of sheet metal, the sheet being bent upon itself forming a loop, these loops respectively embracing the respective end bearings for the rub-iron, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. In a chafe-iron attachment, a portion of sheet metal, cut out centrally, and doubled or bent over upon itself, a rotatable rub-iron, and bearings therefor at the doubled portions, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. In a chafe-iron attachment, a portion of sheet metal, cut out centrally, and doubled or bent over upon itself, a rotatable rub-iron, and bearings therefor at the doubled portions, the sheet metal also serving as the flange for the connection of this attachment to the vehicle, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4. In a chafe-iron attachment, a rotatable rub-iron, separable bearings therefor, a portion of the sheet metal open for the reception of the rub-iron, the sheet metal being bent ttadhm e n t, a rotatable rub-iron, separable bearings therefor, a portion oi sheet metal open for the reception of the rub-iron, the sheet metal being bent upon itself and thereby forming loops, respectively embracing the bearings for the rub-iron, and means for holding the terminal parts of each loop together, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

6. In a chafe-iron attachment, a rotatable rub-iron, separable bearings therefor, a portion of the sheet metal open for the reception of the rub-iron, the sheet metal being bent upon itself and thereby forming loops, respectively embracing the bearings for the rubiron, and means for drawing the terminal parts of each loop together, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

7. In a chafe-iron attachment, a rotatable rub-iron, separable bearings therefor, a portion of sheet metal open for the reception of the rub-iron, the sheet metal beingbent upon itself and thereby forming loops, respectively embracing the bearings for the rub-iron, and screws for adjustably approximating the terminal adjacent edge or parts of each loop together, substantially as and-for the purposes specified.

8. In a chafe-iron attachment, a rotatable rub-iron, the looped sleeves and the flanges for securing the same to the vehicle formed out of a single piece of sheet metal, and bent to shape, and having the approximated parts P, P, and the screws or rivets B, through these parts adapted to hold them in position and to approximate them, for sustaining the rub-iron, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

9. In a chafe-iron attachment, a rotatable rub-iron, bearings therefor, the looped sleeves and the flanges or extensions formed out of a single piece of sheet metal, and bent to shape, and having the approximated parts P, P, and the screws or rivets R, through these parts adapted to hold them in position, and to approximate them, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

10. In a chafe-iron attachment, the looped sleeves and the flanges for securing the same to the vehicle, formed out of a single piece of sheet metal, and bent to shape, and having the adjacent parallel parts P, P, and the screws or rivets R, through these parts adapted to hold them in position and to approximate them, so as to lock the screw center pieces, substantially as and for the purposes specified. v

11. In a chafe-iron attachment, a roller and sleeves, and screw center pieces held by the sleeves, and a portion on one of the center pieces, in front of the screw of a diameter roller, the spring being compressed, as the screw center piece is advanced to place, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

12. In a chafe-iron attachment, a rotatable rub-iron, sleeves separate from the chafe-iron and opposed thereto, and bearingpieces, a portion on one of the bearing-pieces, of less diameter than the rear portion of the bearing-piece, a coiled spring upon such portion, the coiled spring adapted to hear at one end against the adjacent part of the rotatable rub-iron, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

13. In a chafe-iron attachment, a rotatable rub-iron, sleeves, and bearing-pieces, a portion on one of the bearing-pieces, of less diameter than the rear portion of the bearingpiece, a coiled spring upon such portion, the coiled spring adapted to hear at one end against the adj acent part of the rotatable rubiron, and means for adjustably compressing the spring, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

14. In a chafe-iron attachment, a rotatable rub-iron, sleeves, and bearing-pieces, a portion on one of the bearing-pieces, of less diameter than the rear portion of the bearingpiece, a coiled spring upon such portion, the coiled spring adapted to bear at one end against the adjacent part of the rotatable rub-iron, and means for advancing the bear ing, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

15. In a chafe-iron attachment, a rotatable rub-iron, sleeves, and bearing-pieces, a portion on one of the bearing-pieces, of less diameter than the rear portion of the bearingpiece, a coiled spring upon such portion, the coiled spring adapted to hear at one end against the adjacent part of the rotatable rub-iron, and means for compressing the spring and for advancing the bearing, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

16. In a chafe-iron attachment, the flanges angulated relatively to each other, the parts P, P, closely parallel to each other, screws or rivets connecting the parts P, P, sleeves E, E, these and the flanges and the parts P, P of one piece, the sleeves provided with internal screw-threads, screw center pieces having the screw-threads F and tapering center points F, one of which has a reduced portion F spring K thereon, shoulder F of the screw center piece, rotatable chafe-iron I-I adapted to receive the adjacent ends of the screw center pieces, the roller and the sleeves being of the same diameter, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

HENRY IIIGGIN.

Attest:

WM. H. PUGH, K. SMITH. 

